Window screen



EMQSS@ E. H. SMYTHE Oct. 23 1923.,

wINnowscREEN Filed May 1S 1920 2 shmmmshm a @et 23 w23, 1,471,534

E.A H. sMYTHE WINDOW SCREEN Filed may 15, 1920 z shun-shut 2 EDWIN SMYTHE, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW SCREEN.

Application ined may 1 5,

To all whom t mav/ concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN H. SMYTHE,

V,a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, -have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin "Window Screens, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.v

This invention relates to a' collapsible window screen, and particularly to a device for interposing a screen across a window or other like opening toconstitute a, barrier 'with respect to foreign substances such as dirt and dust, while at the same time permitting the passage of air for Ventilating purposes.

it is the principal object of this invention to provide a window screen or ventilator of this character that may be readily placed in and removed from the window, that will substantially prevent the passage of air currents at all. points except where the screen is interposed, that will keepthe screen interposed at all times during the opening and closing of. the window, that will automatically adjust the screen to the changing lwindow opening, collapsing .the

` screen as the window is lowered and permitting its extension as the window is raised, that will effect an automatic cleaning of the screening element to prevent it from becoming clogged and ineffective from, ac-

cumulations of dust and dirt, that will prol' vide for the catching or trapping and convenient' removal 4of the collected dust and dirt, that willbe automatically guided to bring its parts into cooperative relation with` the window sash and casing when it is put into place, that will be held se^urely in position when applied to the window and will be readily detached therefrom When it is desired to remove the same, and that may be left 'in position, but permit the ready detachment of the4 screen element from the sash to permit the free upward movement of the sash when it isv desired to throw open the window to its fullest extent and beyond the limit of travel of the screen. t is also the object of this invention to provide an improved cleanin'g device or brush for use with awindow screen or ventilator of'this character. f

The foregoing andother objects itis the aim of this invention to attain in a structure that is strong, compact and simple in its construction, readily disassembled to per- 1920. serial N. 381,690.

The invention in its preferred form is il' l lustrated 1n the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the window and its casing with the end pleces or socketsin position upon the casing, andthe screen casing andits assoelated parts in readiness to be' thrust into the sockets, excepting that, for clearness of illustration, the edge strip is shown slightly lifted from its socket in the casing; in which Flg. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a window casing withv the window sash vin its raised position and with the collapsible screen and its associated parts in position in the window; and in which Fig. 3 is a perspective view of n. filler block used to fill in unoccupied space at the end of the screen casing.

Referring to the drawings, Vthe window screen or' ventilator. of this invention consists primarily, in its present embodiment,

of the two lend sockets or brackets 1 and 2,

the window with the foot of each bracket resting upon. the window sill, the face of the bracket bearing against the corresponding vertical member of the window frame, and

with the side-of the bracket resting against the side of. the' window casing. The swinging lposts or connecting members f3 and 4 are pivotally secured, a's by means of wood screws, to the lower sash ofthe window in suitable position to permit their engagement, when the screen casing 11 is in position', with cooperating connecting mem-l bers or hooks 5 and 6 carried `upon the edge strip 7 ofthe screen.

tion, the screen casing 11,is substantially wedge-shaped or triangular in outline.` The screen proper, indicated at 12, is flexible,

In the present .embodiment of the invenv and is'- collapsed in the present instance by vbeing wound upon aro11er 13 which is mounted in the enlarged or rear portion of the wedge-shaped casing. The roller 13 may be a. window shade roller and may be either of the wooden or of the extensible sheet metal variety, both of these forms beingvwell known in the art. This roller,

as is customary in the case of the well known window shade rollers, may be hollow and contain a helical spring which is normally placed under sufficient tension to' the ,screen into 'the casing.. The roller 13 may also, as is customary, be provided with peines 15, one of which is Cylindrical and zov the other of which is rectangular or squared. The cylindrical pintle has its bearing in a round hole in one of the end pieces 36 of the casing, while the other pintle has its bearing in a squared bearing 23 in the other.

end piecev 37 of the casing. This squared bearing in the end piece 37 may be key slotted so that by lifting the squared pintle into the enlarged part of the key slot, the pintle may be rotated either to increase or reduce the tension in the retractile spring of the roller to any desired degree.

The screen casing 11 may be bent up'out of sheet metal so that the rear portion or l wall of the casing is substantially vertical,

with the top of the casing' shell extending forwardly and downwardly to bring the forward edge' of the casing that is closest to the window sash to a point as near the level of the window sill as possible. This is in order 'that the forward part of thecaS- ing may be in substantial engagement with the'window sash at a point sufficiently low 4 so'that it will not be interfered with bythe handles Awith which window sashes are usually provided.

The forward portion oredge of the top of the casing shell 16 is rounded,lpreferably by being bent downwardly and inwardly,

' to form a rounded lipl 17; and the edge of the rounded lip 17 within the casing may vbe left open to forni a trap 18, the function of whichwill presently be described. The lower edge of the rear or vertically-extending portion of the casing. shell 16 may be lturned inwardly substantially at right' v angles to the rear wall of the shell to. formv a foot upon which the casing rests when it is thrust into the end sockets or brackets 1 and'2 upon the window sill. Tntothe ends of the casing shell 16 are fitted two end Km-pieces 36 and 37, which are formed so as to conform to the contour of the cross-sedl tion of the casing shell, and which are provided with the key slotted bearing l23 and the,r0und bearing 39 for the pintles of the roller, as hereinbefore described. The end pieces 36` and 37 may conveniently he formed of sheet metal with the edges turned' vinwardly to form bearing webs for engage# ment with the inner surfaces of the respec tive ends of the casing shell. The end pieces do not completely close the ends of the casingshell, but instead are terminated a short distance to the rear of the forward edge of the rounded lip 17 so as to leave the ends of the trap 18 open. @ne of the end pieces of the casing may, desired, he permanentsubstantially parallel matinee' made lremovable to facilitate theassemhlng of the vunit 11.

The casing shell 16 comprises only the vertical rear wall and the inclined front wall with its rounded lip 17. With the shell 16 is assembled alower member 28 formed preferably of sheet metal bent to form a flat portion, the rear edge offwhich may, if desired, be lbent up linto a substantial vertical portion 40. Parts of the forward edge of the lower member 28 may be bentv up to form socketing lugs 29.

In the angle formed between thel upper surface of the lower member 28 and the rear upturnedportion 40 is mounted a backing strip 22 carrying a sealing strip 21 arranged to bear against the lower surface of the screen 12. The backing strip may be of wood and the sealing strip 21 may be of felt parts that form the screen casing secured to the backing strip -in any convement manner; or ordinary Weather strip of suitable form may be used. The backing strip 22 may be fastened to the lower mem ber 28 of the casing, and may alsol be pivotally secured at its ends to the end pieces 36 and 37 of the casing. This pivotal oon nection forms a fulcr'um about which the lower member 28 mav be turned, so that the lower member with its associated parts forms a jaw which may be opened to swing its parts awayv fromthe upper member of the casing and the Screen.

he screen casing 11 is provided, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, with cleaning means for the screen in the form of an upper brush 19 and a lower brush 20. These brushes may be constructed in. any suitable manner; but l have found it convenient to construct them as follows: From a strip of hair cloth or lining1 cloth of the sort which is ordinarily employed as a stiff ening lining in' coats and the like, and having' a warp of rather stidhair, a strip 26 is 'cut in such a way that the hair extends across thelength of the strip. This strip is laid upon a long, shallow channel 24, lwhich may be of light gauge metal, with the me= dian line or middle of the strip of hair cloth lying above the middle line of the-channel; and a locking strip or wire 25 is then forced down upon the strip to carry the middle of the strip into the channel and lock it inv lll@ locking wire and the fabric or hair cloth when it is forced into position and the form 'and depth of the channel are preferably made such that the inner surfacesv of the channel guide the protruding edges of the strip of hair cloth sothat these edges vare or lslightly converge. The threads that form the Woof of the strip are then removed, leaving the hair project l material be small, so as to catch and prevent.

desirable that the interstices in the screen i the 'passage through the -screenof dust, soot Ascreens are ordinarily put, it may consist of flexible screen materlal, either cloth ory metal, of a larger mesh. The Screen material is, of course, provided with such strengthening or reinforcing ltapes or threads as may be necessary to cause. itto hold its shape when it is put under the tension to which it is subjected in operation.

In order conveniently to attach the screen 12 to the edge strip 7,' the screen fabric of clot-h or metal as the case may be, may be provided with a' henr through which the binding strip 8 is passed, the binding strip then being fastened to the attaching strip 9 by screws 10 or other suitable detachable connecting means The inner edge of the screen fabric is attached to the periphery of the cylindrical roller 13,v which in this embodiment serves as the vscreen collapsing means, in any convenient way-such, for instance, as the way in whichwindow shades are attached to their rollers. The roller 13 with the attached screen. 12 rolled upon it may then be put in place in vthe casing, and the removable end .piece 37 and the lower member or jaw 28 of the casing securedv in l toward the interior of the casing, the edge.

l place, the screen 12 being pulled out so that its outer edge, terminating in theedge strip 7, `protrudes beyond the nose orrounded lip of the screen casing 11. Any desired amount of tension may then be put upon the-screen by rotating the rectangular p intle 15 in the enlarged portion ofthe key-slotted bearing 23 to wind up the roller spring, the tension thus secured being held by then moving the rectangular pintle into the constricted portion of the key slot. This tension upon the screen 12 draws the outer edge toward the interior 'ofthe screen casing l1 until the edge strip 7 rests in the socket formed by the socketing lugs 29 and opposed outer surface of the rounded' lip 17 of the screen casing. The edge strip 7 is of such dimensions that when the screen is thus drawn as far as possible strip is seated in the sockets so that its upper edge is approximately even` with the upper edge of the extremity of the rounded nose 17. When thus assembled, the screen casing 11, with its contained and associated parts, forms a substantially wedge-shaped unit, all parts of which lie within the boundvsurfaces of the casing.

en the device ofthe invention is to be lLarissa applied toda window, the end sockets or brackets 1 and 2 are fastened in position by screws or other suitable means at opposite -sides of the Window casing, with the felted forward surfaces of the brackets in `rubbing contact with the vertical members of the sliding window frame. ,The movable connecting parts Band 4' are secured4 to 4the lower sash of the window in proper position to engage the hooks orfconnecting lugs l5 and 6 of the edge strip 7 when the screen case ing 1l is'put in place. 4The filler blocks 44 adjusted to such width. as is 'necessary to fill .up the unoccupied spaces at both ends of the casing 1l, if such are required on account of the -relative dimensions 4of the screen casing 11 'and the width of the window, 'are' then secured i'n position .in the socketing portions32 ofthe brackets 1 and 2, as by forcing them onto the sharpened studs '45 projecting from .theflateral flanges. The screen casing 11,"with the associated parts,

. may then be slipped into place' as a vunit by' thrusting it forwardly into' the socket portions ofthe two brackets l and 2.

When the casing l1 is fully thrust into place,- the resilient lips 33 of the brackets cooperate with the ledges 34 to hold the the guides constituted by the end socket channels 30, and the upward `movement of the edge strip 7, and consequently 4of the window, being limited by the closures 31 at the top of thel channels. The swinging post arms 3 and 4 and their cooperating edge4 strip hooks 5 and 6 are preferably located as close as convenient tol the brackets 1 and 2 in order to secure a'stronger and more positive limiting action to the upward movement of the window when the edg'e strip 7 engages-the stops 31 at the top of the channels. As the screen is drawn up'and out of kthe screen casing 11 in the upward movement of the window, .the spring vroller-13- eXerts a retractile force which holds the lon screen taut, and which draws the screen back into the casing andthe edge strip 7 -back into its sockets at the nose of the casing when'the window is lowered. By swinging the post arms 3 and 4 toward .the center of l the window, the wlndow may be disengaged .from the screen so as to' be Ifree to be raised to its full extent. When. the window is down or is disengaged from the screen by the inward movement ofthe armsj3' and 4, the screen casing unit 11 may be withdrawn from the window casing, leaving the window practically unobstructed. l

trap 18 formed memset ing' to form a-brush.- Each of the brushes 19 the bristles of the brushes projecting to,A wards and in engagement with the upperu and lower surfaces of the screen 12. rlhe brush strips 19 and 2O kmay conveniently be attached to the members of the casing Iby forcing them into position between `lugs 27 that yare struck up from the metal of the casingvshcll and lower member. The brush strips are preferably so positioned that ltheir bristles engage the upper and lower `surfaces of the screen at points as `close to the forward edge of the casing 11 as possible; and the positioning of the upper brush strip 19 is preferably such that the dust and dirt brushed from the .screen will fall into the within the rounded lip 17 of the casing shell. The dust and dirt that is brushed from the surface of the screen by the lower brush strip 20 falls upon the upper surface of the lower casingr member 28. The dirt that is thus collected may be Adislodged and. removed 'from the casing -by turning it up on end so as to permit lthe dirt to fall outlengthwlse of the trap and the' lower casing member. -@ne of the brush strips 19 and 2O maybe found sufficient for cleaning purposes, in which casevthe other may be omitted.

The-end sockets or brackets 1 and 2 for holding'the casing element in operative relation with the window, in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, may each conveniently be made of sheet metal bent into a form which aiords a vertical or upwardly extending channel 30 with a closure 31 vat its top and a transverse mouth or ,socket portion 32 communicating with the lower -end ot' the channel 30. The upper edge of the transverse mouth or socket -32 is provided with a resilient lip 33, which may either'be formed integrally with the sheet metal o t the end socket-or may b e a piece of resilient metal secured to 'anoutwardly turned ledge of the wall of the end socket..

channelaway from the window. The inclination of the resilient lic` 33 is suchas to conform to theshape of the screen casing', and vto exert downward pressure upon the top of the screen casing when it is thrust into position in the socket. The extreme rear nedge ot the `'foot of the end socket is turned up 'to form a ledge 34, and when the screen casng is thrust into the socket, the rear wall oit' the casing comes to rest just vwithin this ledt'efso that the -ledge 34 and the resilient llip 33 cooperate 'tofholdthescreen casing 11 in' position. The foot of theend socket or bracket'and the upwardly extending portion ot 'the socket are substantially at right angles 'to each other, so that when the socket is placed in position .in the corner of the window casing, the front face of the bracket, which may conveniently be covered with a strip of felt, lis in `flat engagement with the jframe of the window, the channel 30 fat -its intersection with the transverse mouth 32 there isian offset or enlargement 35 which serves 'to accommodate the lugs 29 :at each end 'of the :lower member 28 of. the screen casing. Iflh-is oiset is so prof portioned that when the `screen casing is in position in its brackets, vthe space between 4the flugs 29 and the=correspondingl surfaces may be fastened "to vthe window casing by screws passing through 'these' lateral flanges.

The dimensions 'of the various elements ot the window screen ofvthis invention in the form described are adapted lto the dimensions of the window with which the device is to be used. The length of the channels 30 ot the brackets 1 and y2 may be such as to permit as much upward 'movement of the edge strip 7 in the channels as is necessary to pro- 'vide the ldesired screened window openingV when the window is raised; and the length of the screen casing 11 may be adapted to the width of the window to which the screen is to be applied. rThe construction oi:l the 4device is such thata certain latitude of ad- Atthe lower end of..

the window frame is somewhat wider, may

be seated less deeply in the two brackets. lVhatever clearance there is between the ends oli-the screen'casing 11 and the lateral flanges 43 upon the feet of thel respective 'l brackets 1 and .2 may be filled in any suitable manner, as, ferl instance, by means of filler blocks 44. rlhese may conveniently be oiE wood of substantially the form shown in Fig.

l3, and with the grain of the wood preferably running at right angles to the length of the casing so that the 'blocks may be adjusted bv splitting to adapt them to the clearance spaces they occupy at 'the time the window screen is installed.

rilhe screen 12 may be of any convenient or suitable material having the characteristics adapted for the use for which the device of the invention is intended. In certain of 'the I uses to which the device may be applied, it is L A merce, and having i ticity,

tions, when the dimensions two window the lower section to Aof the lower sash lowered, the surfaces of the screen pass between the brushes 19 and 20, and bv this re clean so as to cause it to' obstruct the passage of air through the-screen no more than is necessary in securing the screening action that is desired. The dust and dirt dislodged by the brushes collect in the interior .of the casing, and, as hereinbefore stated, may be removed by up-ending the casing and permitting the accumulation to fall out. The construction is such that whenever, on account of wear or for any other reason, it is desired to remove and replace the brushes 19 and 20 or the screen with a minimum of effort.

If desired, a narrow strip of elastic fabric, such as that used in the elastics of comthedesired degree of elasmay be interposed between the screen fabric 12 and the hem 41 that secures the screen to the edge strip 7. This -acts to equalize the tension upon the screen 12 in case there should be any inequality of pull exerted upon different portions of the width of the screen 12 by the roller 13.

To prevent any slight leakage of unscreened air that mi Vht otherwise occur by way of the unoccupied portions of the channels -30 of the brackets 1 and 2, such porare such that the 11 is somewhat shorter than the width ofthe window casing, may be filled with strips of material such as felt; and felt 'may also be applied to the front of the edge strip 7, and to other surfaces where slight leakage of air might otherwise occur. To complete the sealing of all portions of the window, excepting the opening across which the screen or Ventilating fabric is stretched, a weather strip with a tongue of elastic felt or other suitable inaterial may be attached to the lower surface of the upper section or half of the window in such a way that the tongue engages the outer surface of the glass of the lower window. This will serve to prevent the passage of air up between the sections when the lower section is partially opened. The lengthv and flexibility of the tongue may be such that it will yield andpermit the lower sash of move ast it when the screen casing y lower half of the window is moved all the a spring way up andthe upper half is moved all the way down, as happens occasionally when the window is washed.

I claim: 1`. In a roller screen, the combination with roller having a screen wound therestrip secured to the free on, of a fastening means for securing sai end of said screen,

12, this may be done strip toa window sash, and a strip of'elastic n said fastening d vfabric interpo and said of said spring roller an of. said screen taut.

2. In a roller screen,

strip sed betwee screen for equaliz'ing the pullv d keeping the surface the combination with a roller having/a flexible screen wound'thei'eon, of means f window casing, of said screen paral window sash,V

cleaning means for securing lel with said roller to the 7k means arranged or attaching said roller toa an edge engage the surface of said screen a'nd'auto-y matically clean off of and onto th lowering of means. y

ing an edge 3. A windowscreen, containing an extensible,

the window,

the samefas e roller 1n the screen winds 4said cleaning comprising a casing flexible screen strip adapted to be detachably 3F? sh, and end sockets havwith rearwardly presented openings for reends of said casing after said ceiving the sockets are and formed nel downward move plane substantially p portions for guiding ment of said end strip in a',

arallel with the plane place in the with upwardly window frame extending chanthe 'upward and the raising and I l and a dust trap in QQ co-operative relation with of the window and in substantial engagement with the window sash ow screen, the combination f substantially triangular of said casing being a downwardly andin- 4. In a wind with a casing o cross-section, the apex open and formed. with wardly curved portion to constitute' a round- 1 ed nose,

the interior of which longitudinally extending. trap,

constitutes a of la screen mounted within said casing and having its forward edge arranged through the said screen open apex of said casing, means for detachably securing the a window sash, retractile to engage said d casing close extending trap.

en, the combination ntaining an extensible th retractile means for the casing of end sockets adapt-v to project out outer edge of be drawn when the window sash is to draw said screen hen the sash is lowered, ly extending back brushing descreen at a when it is ed to receive the ends of said casing', said sockets each consisting tending portion into end of the casing is is adapted to ets are mounted on a window dinally extending chanfrom which when said sock land a longitu frame,

nel communicating with said transver tending portion,

being adapte ing portion a it said lon 'itudinally extendof a transversely exwhich the associated dapted to be thrust and be withdrawn y exto lie against the to and behind the same in a plane parallel with the ment of the window sash an in substantial engagement with the sash in its movement. 6.

n` a window screen, the combination with a casing containing an extensible'scre'en provided with retractile means and having a strip to which the outer edge of said screen Vis secured, of end sockets for said casing -lltl y hol I the saidroller eef , spending end of I with a flexible adapted to be secured to opposite sides of a window casing, said sockets each having an open mouthed portion into which the correthe casing is thrust as it is moved toward the window sash, and said open mouthed portion of each sockethaving a resilient li and aledge co-operating to grasp and ho din position the corresponding end of said screen casing whenl it is thrust into the socket.

` 7. In a window screen, the combination screen, .of a substantially wedge-shaped casing therefor, means for collapsing said screen within said casing, means. for automatically grasping and holding said casing in a window frame with the nose of said casing substantially in engagement with the wlndow sash, and means for automatically engaging and de tachably securing the ree edge of said screen to the window sash.

`8. Ina window screen, with a flexible screen, of Wedge-shaped casing therefor, mounted longitudinally of said casing in the large portion thereof, fastening ding said casing in position on a window sill with the small portion or nose of said casing close to the window sash, and means for automatically engaging said casing with said fastening means and' the freeedge of said screen with the window sash in placing saidwcasing in position. j 9. A roller screen for windows, comprsing a flexible screen, a roller upon which said Screen is normally rolled, a casing having mounted rotatably in the rear portion thereof and having a constricted for- -ward portion through which thefree edge of said screen is adapted to pass when the screen is unrolled, cleaning means mounted within said casing and adapted to engage a surface of said screen as the same-passes the combination a substantially l through the constricted portion of said cas- 'close to the window into said' casing a roller means for amines ing, dust trapping means within said casing adjacent said cleaning means, means for securing said casing with its included parts in place in a window, casing, and means for detachably securing the free edge of said screen to the window sash.

10. In a window screen, the combination with a substantially wedge-shaped casing containing a collapsible, flexible screen with resilientv means for drawing said screen into said casing, of means for securing said caslng in a window casing with the nose of Saad screen casing presented toward and sash, means for detachably securing the free edge of said screen to said window sash, and a strip of interposed elastic material for equalizing the pull of said resilient means and keeping the surface ofsaid screen taut.

11. with a casing containing a flexible screen with resilient means for drawing said screen when it is withdrawn therefrom, of means for attaching the free edge of said 'screen to a window sash, and cleaning means within said casing for engaging and cleaning the surface of said screen as '1t 1s moved into and out of said casing, a

portion of said casing constituting a dust trap anda bearing lsurface for the said screen.

12. In a window screen, the combination with a casing containing a screen having meansv for dra-wing it back into the, casin when it is withdrawn therefrom, of attaching means automatically operated to attach the free edge of said screen to a window sash and said screen casing to the window casing when said casing is placed in position in a window frame.

13. l'n a window screen, the combina-tion with a screen element including a collapsible screen having a free edge adapted for attachment to a window sash, of end sockets for Said screen element, said end sockets being adapted to be secured to opposite sides of a window casing-and to site ends of said screen element, and means automatically operated in placing said screen element in position in said end sockets for lattaching the free edge of the yscreen to the window sash.

In witness whereof my name this 13th day Il hereunto subscribe of May, A. D., 1920.

nnvvin n. snrrnn'.

Ina window screen, the combination v ffl@ ik 

